01 Oct TASTE TEST TALES: Food Science v. Cooking

When you imagine a Food Scientist, what comes to mind? If you’re like most people, you likely assume “Oh, they put chemicals in our food to make it more addictive” or “They make fake food and claim it’s real”. As a Food Scientist myself, I have heard these misconceptions countless times. Those in the food industry, especially food scientists, can relate to this struggle. People often recognize popular jobs such as a teacher, accountant, or marketing, but when they finally get to the “Food Scientist” they can’t help but give a blank stare.

Welcome to Taste, Test, Tales!

A platform dedicated to all things food science. We offer more than just information on what food science is and how to pursue a career in it. Here, we delve into the fascinating world of food science, uncovering industry secrets and exploring ways to apply food science techniques to enhance everyday home cooking.

Our mission is to share our passion for food science with you, providing valuable insights and practical advice that will elevate your culinary skills. Whether you’re a professional chef, a culinary enthusiast, or someone simply curious about the science behind food, our content is tailored to inspire and educate.

Behind The Name

As Food Scientists, our primary responsibility is to transform basic ingredients into delectable dishes or food products. We meticulously analyze food trends and concerns and then develop food items that cater to the specific desires of our target consumers. We thoroughly evaluate aspects such as shelf life, flavor, appearance, food safety, and overall quality, employing the expertise of various departments in the process. Now, let’s break down the title word by word:

TASTE — It is essential for Food Scientists to personally taste a product to gain a comprehensive understanding of its attributes, which helps us replicate, optimize, modify, or draw inspiration for future creations.

TEST — Food Scientists must design and conduct a variety of tests to achieve our desired objectives. Examples of these objectives include:

Replicate: Developing a cereal that closely mimics the taste of Snickers.

Optimize: Enhancing the chocolate flavor in the traditional Oreo.

Modify: Creating gluten-free flaming-hot Cheetos.

Gain Inspiration: Crafting an Asian-inspired nugget.

TALES — One of our key responsibilities as Food Scientists is to meticulously document our findings, present them to the team (usually comprised of marketers), and seek their approval before launching any new food product.

Taste Test Tales is a blog where we will authentically share our experiences of tasting, testing, and storytelling.

Type of Content

Throughout this blog, we cover topics such as:

Cooking Techniques

Taste-Testing the Web’s Most Popular Recipes

Food Science 101

How it’s Made

Let the Science Begin

If you have reached this point, we invite you to join us in an exploration of the realm of Food Science and its profound influence on every aspect of the food you consume. From the finest poultry at the local market to your preferred brand, we aim to deepen your understanding and appreciation for the intricate field of food science. Let us dispel the notion of belittling it as mere “chemicals” — for truly, everything we encounter is composed of chemicals.

Sincerely,
Keanu Taylor | I HAVE A STORY LLC
Date: September 26th, 2023 | Revised Date: ______